1. Until the War in Afghanistan, The Vietnam War was the longest war in American history. For Americans, the war spanned over a time period of 15 years, however for the Vietnamese people the struggle for independence and self-determination lasted much longer than that. A small American involvement that started with a group of key advisors eventually escalated into a large scaled war that had an army of over half a million American soldiers.
The American involvement in Vietnam started slowly. During the first Vietnam War that was fought between Vietnam and France following World War II, the United States provided over two billion dollars in aid to the French with the hopes of defeating the communist Vietminh. Ultimately the French were defeated …show more content…
The overthrow of Diem in Vietnam had been overshadowed by President Kennedy’s assassination, which took place shortly there after. Unfortunately for President Johnson, he had inherited a deepened involvement in Vietnam due to the “complicity” of President Kennedy’s administration. By the end of 1963, South Vietnam had 15,000 American Military Advisors who had received $500 million in aid. In August of 1964 During Johnson’s Presidency, the Gulf of Tonkin incident played a crucial role in having congress pass the Gulf of Tonkin resolution that gave Johnson the power to create a war against North Vietnam. At home, the Gulf of Tonkin incident also took the Vietnam War off the table as an issue for the election. With the authority to take control over actions against North Vietnam, President Johnson began operation Rolling Thunder in 1965. The subsequent attacks on South Vietnam following Rolling Thunder led to request of additional U.S. troops in Vietnam.
From the very beginning of America’s involvement in Vietnam, it was clear that the war was born from an extension of foreign policy to contain communism. The United States wanted to show the world its place in the world as a super power and the decision to fight in Vietnam was brought from a continued involvement of from U.S Presidents. When the Vietnam War was presented to Johnson, he did not want to be the first U.S …show more content…
The 1960’s was a decade with many cultural changes. The one we have focused on now has been a large distrust in government and the counter culture to question authority. In addition, The Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act changed the social norm in the United States and created steps toward a society of racial equality. Some of the impacts of 1960’s that emerged were women’s rights and gay rights movements that emerged and were fought for during the 1970’s. The ratification of the 26th amendment was born from the 1960’s. So many men who had just turned 18 were drafted into war, but that no rights to vote for someone who could have kept them at home instead of being drafted. In addition to the right to vote at 18 granted by the 26th amendment, the draft was abolished and now the U.S has a volunteer based
The American involvement in Vietnam started slowly. During the first Vietnam War that was fought between Vietnam and France following World War II, the United States provided over two billion dollars in aid to the French with the hopes of defeating the communist Vietminh. Ultimately the French were defeated …show more content…
The overthrow of Diem in Vietnam had been overshadowed by President Kennedy’s assassination, which took place shortly there after. Unfortunately for President Johnson, he had inherited a deepened involvement in Vietnam due to the “complicity” of President Kennedy’s administration. By the end of 1963, South Vietnam had 15,000 American Military Advisors who had received $500 million in aid. In August of 1964 During Johnson’s Presidency, the Gulf of Tonkin incident played a crucial role in having congress pass the Gulf of Tonkin resolution that gave Johnson the power to create a war against North Vietnam. At home, the Gulf of Tonkin incident also took the Vietnam War off the table as an issue for the election. With the authority to take control over actions against North Vietnam, President Johnson began operation Rolling Thunder in 1965. The subsequent attacks on South Vietnam following Rolling Thunder led to request of additional U.S. troops in Vietnam.
From the very beginning of America’s involvement in Vietnam, it was clear that the war was born from an extension of foreign policy to contain communism. The United States wanted to show the world its place in the world as a super power and the decision to fight in Vietnam was brought from a continued involvement of from U.S Presidents. When the Vietnam War was presented to Johnson, he did not want to be the first U.S …show more content…
The 1960’s was a decade with many cultural changes. The one we have focused on now has been a large distrust in government and the counter culture to question authority. In addition, The Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act changed the social norm in the United States and created steps toward a society of racial equality. Some of the impacts of 1960’s that emerged were women’s rights and gay rights movements that emerged and were fought for during the 1970’s. The ratification of the 26th amendment was born from the 1960’s. So many men who had just turned 18 were drafted into war, but that no rights to vote for someone who could have kept them at home instead of being drafted. In addition to the right to vote at 18 granted by the 26th amendment, the draft was abolished and now the U.S has a volunteer based